Electric-car truck.



P; n sToWB. ELEGTBIU GAB TRUCK.

.LPPLIULTIOR FILED 1113.10, 1905. BBNEWED MAR. 16, 1908.

902,01 '7. j Patented oct. 27, 1908.

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lv nl P. F. sToWB.

v ELECTRIC GAR Tauck.

' APPLICATION FILED IALIO, 1906. BENEWBD IAB.. 1 6, 1908.l

902,017. Patent-.ed ont. 27,1908.

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r. F. sTowE. 1

ELECTRIC CAB TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED 1,113.10, 1905. BEIEWED IAB. 16, 1908.

, v PatentedCct. 27,1908

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'lweses L wma/MI,

r. F. s TowB.

v BLBGTBIG GAB TRUCK. AIPLIOL-TIOI FILED IAB.. 10, 1905i REXBWED IAB. 16, 1908. 4

902,017. Patented 0ct.27,1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. V

iJNlTED STATES 'PATENT onirica.

. FERNANDQ: r; s'rownor Woiionsrns, MASSACHUSETTS.

nmicritic-cart rnucx.

` im. scam?.

" Speccation of Letters Patent.

lPatentes oct. 27, 190s.

Apyumion mea umh 1o, reos, seiax No; atasco. jntaeweaxuch 1s, isos. serial No. mais.

To ,all whom it may concern.' y

' Be it known that'l, FERNANDO F.- STOWE, a citizen of' the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Electric-ar Truck,.of which the iollovvingis a specificaticn. l

' f 'lhis invention relates to the runninggear of electriccars. V1o 1 vThe especial objects oit' this inventionare to 'provide a yielding or elastic support fer electric motor ina truck frame; and to prof4 vide a construction in which an axle, although usedfor supporting the motor, will be pernitted to have amovement with respect'to Vthe car tralala.

To these ends,

this .invention consists of Y the truckor an electric car, and of the 'couihinations of parts therein as hereinafter de 2c scribed and more particularly pointedioutin Y the claims at thee-.nd of this s ecification.v

ln the accompanying four s eets of drawings, Figure l is a plan view: ci'v Sufficient parteci a car-truck to illustrate the applicatien of this invention thereto. Fig.. 2 is `a fragmentary sectional -view of one 'of the cone hearings which 'connect the' motor i the trucbframe.

sectional i view L ci?. one 'pressed cone bearings which su -o the motor casing en a Whse -axle of the springf port one-'end ing a perspective view oi' the twopartlsp'ring' iecetwhich holds the motor casing vsideiviee; Fig.- isa secressed trom fr sway being a perspective view' fFig. 3 is a {regulen-- @te 9 inclusive are detail views ofparts ofthe cene hearing between the motor and,

the soft metal bushing 1li-which the wheel tional-views the box which permits acplay.

' of the axlewith respect tothe truck-fratrie. Fig. l1 is a perspective'view'o the soft metal bearings for lthe axle. Fig. i2 is a perspec tive wenn' vel? one of kthe sifirlng-pressedhearc is a'perspeetive vicvv'oi l'heairingpiece.Z Fig.. f the el npr r cording to this invention to show Athe relative play of the wheel axles and motor casing Whenthe car truck is `in use. 1 A

One of the most serious problems in constructing and operating electric carsis tc provide for mounting the electric motors so lthat they will be maintained in feared relationtc, the axles, and so that t ey Will-he permitted to have lacertain amcunt-cf play or swinging motion te adapt themselves to the twisting and swaying of the car-trucks which always occurs 1n a running gearl of a car. The diiliculty of mounting the electric motors in cars increases in proportion tothe Weight ofthe cars and the powerand Weight of 'the motors..Y y,

'One-of the heaviest eiqenseitems in the operation of electric railways is the cost of repairs and renewals of motors, and much of the dama e to the electric motor-sis dueto the rigidity Vand unsatisfactory Wavl the motors are now'mounted in the trucks. In ordinary electric car practice the motor casingislprvided' with eyes which arehinged or hung upon an 'axle at one end ci' the lniotor easingvywhile `the other end of theiinotor casing is fastened to a cross-beam of `the truck frame. `l1 have found in ractice that by using spring-pressed cone supporting thev opposite ends of a motor-casing lirorii a Whee -axle, and from ya cross-bar or shaft fixedy inthe trucleframe, lv-have heenA enabled to provide an elastic support for a motor which will permit a limited play lin any. direction; While by providing means for .adjusting the pressure of the springs of the cone-bearings, the motor casing can be as stilly and iiexibly cushicnedas desired, 'I' ln using rollngstock,'not onlyvin electric carv service,` but also-,on ordinary railways, thegreatest wear of vparte and the greatest amount of.. power is required4 in running around curves in the track, and this is due to sel carings for mountingthe wheel axles so that'they will electric car apen springpressed cone-hearn ings, lans. enaiileri'topermi fhave a limited amount or play te permit the avtheeiste cenerna to et.

Y: the trace:

t a wheel-axle te l".

i tions 16 and 17. are first put in place. l65 'openingtgtheside of. the piece 1,9 permits while still being able to kee the motor in gear with the axle which it drives. To ac-l complish this purpose I have invented a box in which the Wheel-axle is4 maintained in 5 proper position bymeans of springressed cone-bearings. It is to bel understoo however, that the adjustable box is regarded as a separate subject matter of invention which can be used in connection with different forms of rolling-stock, and in this applica tion for patent the bearing-box itself 1s not claimed specifically, except in combination with parts for supporting the motor.

Referring now to-the accompanying drawings fora detail description .of a car-truck equipped according to this invention, as shown in Fig. 1, the truck consists of the truck-frame. F which may be provided near its center with the ordinary bolster or crossbeam B.

The truck-frame F is provided with yokes Y for receiving the boxes in which the Wheel-axle A is journaled. These parts may be of the ordinary or usual construction7 except that the boxes 1() are preferably pro- .videdwith cone-bearings for permitting a limited play of the wheel-axle as hereinafter described. l

The motor casing M may be of the ordinary'construction, and contains an electric motor having an extending shaft provided with a pinion P which meshes with and drives a gear G- upon the axle A. The parts thus far referred to, except as otherwise noted, maybe of the ordinary or approved construction. v lThermotor casing M as herein illustrated is provided at one end with eyes or bearings 11 and 12 which loosely surround the axle At its other end the. motor casing M is provided with eyes 37 and 38 which loosely surround a'fixed rod or shaft 36 of the truckframe. v

Referring to Fig. 3 for an understanding of one of the spring-pressed cone-bearings by means of which the motor casing is hinged on the wheel-axle, the axle A is journaled in soft metalbushings 13 and 14, shown most clearly in Fig. 4. and 14 are provided with lugs 15 which fit into holes in the sleeves 16 and 17 shown in Fig; 5. The sleeves 16 and 17 are rovided at one end with half cones 18 which crm one 'cone cfa double cone-bearing. As shown in Fig. 6 the other cone 2() is carried by a piece "2' 19 havinmspring-receiving lugs 21 at its opposite si e'.- The piece 19 is-o'pened at -one side and this opening is" closed andthe conel completed'by a piece'22. One particular ob- 16,0 ject accomplished :by this construction is thatthe parts maybe applied to axles of an electric car which ist-already in use. Todo this the brassesl and 14 and thc sleeve sec- The The soft metal bushings 13 by ajspirai spring 45 Whic the piece to be slip ed sidewise onto the axle and then moved ongitudinally onto the sleeve sections 16 and 17, so 'that inasmuch as the piece 19 is held from turning on the pieces 16 and 17 by reason of being splined or eyed thereon, the piece 19 will hold the brass sections and the sleeves 16 and17 together. 1n the same way `the construction shown in Fig.7 is slipped over the axle and moved into place. `hat is to say, the pressure ring-piece 23 is slipped onto the end of the sleeve sections 16 and 17 and is held from turning thereon by splines or keys. The opened side of the pressure ring 23 is closed by a piece 25, and the pressure ring.23 may be fastened in place by a pointed screw 27, or by other means for preventing the same from moving'longitudinally. Threaded into Vthe lianges of the piece 23 arevthree adjusting screws 28, each of which is provided with' a cap 29. Held in place between the caps 29 and the iece` 21 are springs 30. 1

By tig itening the screws 28 the tension of the springs 30 may be increased so that the eye 11 which supports the motor on thewheel-axle may be clamped between oppositely facing cones with any desired sprlng pressure. j

To provide a buffer opposing the tendency of the motor casing Ito swing sidewise, a twopart sleeve 31 may be clamped on the axle, and fitting telescopically onto lthe, sleeve 31 1s a two-part sleeve 32. Between the sleeves 31 and 32 is a coiled spring 33 for holding the motor casing from moving sidewise. The other sprin -pressed' lcone bearing ofthe motor upon t e axle A isv substantially of the same construction as that already described, and need not again be described in detail.

As shown in Fig. 1,34 designates the brackets which are clamped-to the truck-frame F, and which carry the bearin s 38 in which is clamped the shaft or crossar for supporting the other end of the motor casing M. Carried by' each of the brackets 34 is a pin or finger which extends down into a bracket 360 also fastened to the truck-frame F.

One of the spring-pressed cone bearings for supporting the motor casing lupon the' cross-rod or shaft 36 is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2. As shown inthis figure, 39 designates a collar, and threaded onto the collar 39 is a ring 4Q. The collar 39 and rin r 40 are provided'with wrench sockets, an these parts may be held in their adjusted position by a screw 41 engaging a s ot onthe "collar 3.9 from which the thread is ed or cut away. lThe ring 4th/bears against the bearing 34, "and engaged by the collar 39 is a spiral spring 42 which holds a cone 43 up.into engagement with one side of the eye or bearing. piece 37. Enga ing the other side of the eye 37 is a cone 44 w ich is ressed into place g abuts against a two-part of spring-pressed cone-bearings su truck-frame, an axle, an electric motor, a set porting one point of the second set of spring-pressed cone-bearings supporting a dierent point of the motor from the truck-frame. l

3. In a car truck, the combination of a truck-frame,l an electric motor, springpressed cone bearings holding the motor in lace in .the truck-frameand means for adjusting the springs to vary the rigidity WithA which the motor is supported.

4. In' a car=-truck, the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, a motor, a'set of springressed cone bearings supporting one point of the motor from the axle, a second set of spring-pressed cone bearings supporting another point of the motor from the trutkframe, and means for adjusting the springs of the cone-bearings to regulate the com-.

parative rigidity With which the motor is supported. y

5. Inv a car truck, the combination of a truck-frame', an axle, and a set of springressed cone-bearings supporting-the motor irom the axle, said cone-bearings being adapted to be applied to an intermediate part of the axle so that said'parts may be put on to an axle already in use.

6. In a oar truck, the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, an electric motor, and

four sets of spring-pressed cone bearings,-

supporting the motor, tWo thereof supporting the motor from the axle, and the remaining two supporting the motor from the truckframe. f

7. In a car truck, the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, two sets of springpressed cone bearings supporting tbe motor from the axle, two sets o'l spring-pressed cone-bearings connecting the motor with the truck-frame, and means 'for adjusting Atbe springs of the cone bearings to regulate the rigidity With which the motor is supported.

8. In a car truck, the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, a motor casing having an eye inclosing the axle, and spring-pressed cone bearings forsaid eye comprising a twopart soft metal bearing box, a t-Woart sleeve having a cone engaging one side ov tbe eye, a cone for engaging tbe other side oi tbe eye carried by a partial ringl baring an opening permitting the same axle and slipped Onto the ends of the. twopart sleeve, and springs forcing the cones into engagement with opposite sides of the eye. l

9. In a car truck,.the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, a motor casing having an eye inclosing the axle, and spring-pressed cone bearings for the eye con'iprisin;` a tiropart box, a two-part sleeve hai/fing a Cone engaging one side of the eye, va partial ring iitting onto the ends ofthe two part sleeve and motor from the ax e, and a toV be placed on the i.

carrying the cone engaging the other side of the eye, a pressure piece 'fitted onto tbe twoart sleeve, and adjusting screws and springs ror applying pressure to force the cones into engagement with the opposite sides olf the eye..

10. In a car truck, the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, a motor casing, a set of spring-pressed cone bearings supporting the motor easing from the axle, a second set' Qi spring-pressed cone bearings supporting the motor casing from the truck-frame, and a Spring-pressed buii'er for preventing the motor frame from moving sidewise.

11. In a car truck, the combination of the truck-frame, an axle, spring-pressed cone bearings iexibly mounting tbe axle with respect to the truck-frame, a motor-casing, a set of spring-pressed coneI bearings for mounting the motor casing upon the axle, and a set of spring-pressed cone bearings for connecting the motor casing to the truck-frame.

12. AIn a car truck, the combination oi truck-frame, an axle, spring-pressed cone bearings for flexibly mounting the axle with respect to the truck-frame, a motor-casing, a set of spring-pressed cone bearings mounting the motor casing on the axle, a set of springpressed cone-bearings connecting the motor casing With the truck-frame, and means for regulating the tension of the springs of all of said cone bearings to regulate the comparavtive rigidity of the parts.

13. tin' a car truck, the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, vsprlng-pressed cone 4bearings Jfor holding thev axle in ilace, a motor casing, spring-pressed coneearrngs for hanging the motor casing on the axle. n'reans for connecting the motor casing to the truck- Jframe, and means for adjusting the tension of the springs of the cone-bearings to regulate the relative rigidity of the axle in irs` boxes and of the motor-casing upon tbe axle.

14. In a car truck, the combination of a truck-frame, an axle, spring-pressed eon'c bearings holding the axle in place, a motor casing, means for supporting one end of the motor casing upon the axle, spring-pressed cone bearings connecting the motor casing the tension of the springs of the cone-lavarings to regulate the.` relative rigidity oi' tbc axle in its boxes and of the motor with respect tothe truck-frame.

l5. In a car truclgtlie combination ol' a truck-frame, an axle, spring- )ressed conel bearings holding the axle in piace, a motor casing, s'prin g-pressed cone bearn for han g- `ing the motor casing on the axle, springpressed cone bearings connectingllie motor casing tol thel truck-frame, and a. springpressed abut-ment ior preventing the motor casing from su'ay'ing sirlewise.

16. In a car truck, the combinaiion of a truck-frame, an axle, spring-pressed. cone to the truck-frame, and means for regulating Cir bearings holding theaxle in place, en electric motor, Ve pair f spur gears connecting the .motor-shaft tothe axle, spring-pressed. conebeerings for hanging the motor casing on the A axle, sprillgfpressed cone bearings connectingv Witnesses.

the motor easing to the' truek-frame, and 'means for edjustilrgthe tension of the springs of the cone bearings, whereby the axle wlll' have the play permitting the Wheels to con- 10 form to curves 1'11 the track, While the motor' FERNANDO FT SfroWE.`

Witnesses:

Ferme W. SQUTHGATE, MARY E. REGAN. 

